Fort Charlotte MP Dr. Andre Rollins said yesterday he believes Prime Minister Perry Christie wants him to resign from the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), but he said he will stay on until Christie asks him to leave.
"I believe that with 100 percent certainty that Mr. Christie wants me to no longer be a part of the Progressive Liberal Party," said Rollins, who was a guest on the Guardian Radio talk show "Morning Blend" with host Dwight Strachan.
"And I believe that Mr. Christie is trying to subtly influence those who support him within the [PLP] council. He is trying to subtly influence those who are long-time, hard core supporters of the Progressive Liberal Party to drop hints to the effect that I am no longer supportive of Rollins. I made a mistake in recommending him and creating the opportunity for him to be the party's standard bearer in the [election] and I expect you in turn, to no longer welcome him, as I no longer welcome him."
Rollins was referring to Christie's suggestion that he made a "mistake" when he nominated Rollins to run in Fort Charlotte.
Christie said on Monday he is disappointed in Rollins, who has criticized the PLP over the last few weeks.
"I have been in public life for a very long time," he said in the House of Assembly during the wrap up of the Gaming Bill debate.
"During the process, I have been instrumental in facilitating many persons coming into public life for the first time.
"I've done so on the basis of my judgment and what I think would be right for the Progressive Liberal Party and right for the country.
"Sometimes we make mistakes, Mr. Speaker. But in our democracy I may have been subjected in my past to the exercise of power that resulted in my not getting a nomination."
Christie also said whenever a member of his party disagrees with any government decision, that member has a choice.
Rollins was fired as Gaming Board chairman after he criticized Christie during the recent value-added tax (VAT) debate.
Asked why he continues to be a part of the PLP, Rollins acknowledged that he is a member of Parliament because the PLP gave him an opportunity.
"I want everyone...to know that I really appreciate so much that the PLP has afforded me an opportunity to be a representative and standard bearer for the party," said Rollins, former chairman of the now defunct National Development Party.
"...I could not and would not have been in the position that I am in if it were not for the Progressive Liberal Party giving me the opportunity to be [its] standard bearer."
When pressed on whether he intended to remain a member of the PLP, Rollins said, "If the prime minister doesn't want anything else to do with Andre Rollins then a decision has to be made on my part.
"...I think that Mr. Christie should be asked the question 'do you continue to support Andre Rollins as a member of the PLP?' And...if his answer is no then I think other questions arise."
Rollins has opposed two of the four constitutional amendment bills and the Gaming Bill.
He said yesterday that he will continue to fight for what he believes in.
Rollins said if there is no room for dissension within the PLP, then the party is in for a "rude awakening".

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